A new genus and species of Unenraghiin dinosaur has been identified by Argentine paleontologists. DiuqinrechiguanaeThe discovery fills a large gap in the theropod dinosaur fossil record.
Reconstructing your life DiuqinrechiguanaeImages/Photos Courtesy: Porfiri others., doi: 10.1186/s12862-024-02247-w.
Diuqinrechiguanae It lived on Earth during the Santonian stage of the Cretaceous period, 86 to 84 million years ago.
This species Unenraghiina subfamily of long-snouted proto-avian theropods within the family Dromaeosauridae.
“The Unenraghiin was a carnivorous dinosaur from the Gondwana continent. Paraves“It is a clade that includes birds and their closest non-avian theropod relatives,” said Dr Juan Porfiri of the National University of Comahue in Buenos Aires and his colleagues.
“The fossil record of Unenlagineidae comes primarily from Argentina, where the greatest number of specimens and the most complete skeletons have been found, but other material at least tentatively assigned to Unenlagineidae has been found in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Antarctica.”
“A small, flying Malagasy theropod Lahonavis Ostromi Depending on the particular phylogenetic hypothesis adopted, they are often considered to be non-enragine.
“The Unenraginae are most often interpreted as early-diverging dromaeosaurids, but others consider these theropods to be a separate proto-avian clade (Unenragiiidae).”
“They are an important clade for understanding the origin of birds because they are closely related phylogenetically to birds.”
“But unfortunately, most species are only represented by fragmentary fossils.”
DiuqinrechiguanaeA fragmentary but related skull was found. Bajo de la Culpa Formation Neuquén province, Patagonia, Argentina.
“The specimen was collected in the province of Neuquén, from the isthmus between the southeastern shore of the Balearic Lake and the northwestern shore of Lake Mari-Menuco,” the paleontologists said.
According to the authors: Diuqinrechiguanae It is the first species of Unenraghiine dinosaur to be discovered in the Bajo de la Culpa Formation.
“The Bajo de la Culpa Formation provides fossils that comprehensively represent a diverse and important group of paleontological species,” the researchers said.
“Vertebrate fossils are abundant and often well preserved, including snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodylomorphs, indeterminate pterosaurs, ornithopods, titanosaur sauropods, non-avian theropods, and bird fossils.”
Diuqinrechiguanae It fills a gap of at least 15 million years in the Unenra Guinness fossil record (conservative estimates are 90-75 million years, perhaps more).
“This new species adds to the South American Unenraguines fossil record by filling a large gap in their temporal distribution,” the researchers said.
“Saved elements Diuqinrechiguanae It is morphologically distinct from corresponding bones in other Unenraginian species, including an accessory plate on the most posterior sacral vertebral neural arch, unique paired foramina in the most posterior sacral and anterior coccygeal neural arches, a humerus with a distally positioned distal lateral deltoid ridge, and several conditions that appear intermediate between the humerus and the humerus. Unenragia spp. and the very large Unenraghiines Austroraptor Kabazai. “
“Combined with gaps in the strata spanning millions of years, Diuqinrechiguanae These anatomical differences support the validity of the new species, which are geologically older and newer Unenlagines, respectively.”
“Furthermore, the humerus Diuqinrechiguanae The type specimen retains two conical tooth impressions, indicating that the remains were eaten by another tetrapod, possibly a crocodylomorph, mammal, or theropod (perhaps a megaraptor, as represented by teeth found at the same site, or perhaps another non-enraginean individual of the same species).”
Discovery Diuqinrechiguanae It has been reported paper In the journal BMC Ecology and Evolution.
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JD Porfiri others. 2024. Diuqinrechiguanae A new genus and species of the subfamily Unenraginae (Theropoda: Hypopoda) from the Bajo de la Culpa Formation (Neuquén Group, Upper Cretaceous), Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina. BMC Ecolevo 24, 77; doi: 10.1186/s12862-024-02247-w
Source: www.sci.news
